At least 16 documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, an American financier and convicted sex offender accused of serial sex trafficking of women and girls, disappeared from the Justice Department’s public website less than a day after being posted, raising questions about transparency and the nature of the missing materials.

Epstein died in a New York prison cell on August 10, 2019 as he awaited, without the chance of bail, his trial on sex trafficking charges.

Some of the files reportedly included photographs that could shed light on Epstein’s connections with high-profile figures, according to Associated Press.

The removed documents included images of paintings depicting nude women and a photograph showing pictures arranged along a credenza and inside drawers.

The report noted that inside a drawer among other photos, was a photograph of Trump, alongside Epstein, Melania Trump and Epstein’s longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

The Justice Department did not respond to questions about why the files were removed, but posted on X that “photos and other materials will continue being reviewed and redacted consistent with the law in an abundance of caution as we receive additional information.”

The disappearance prompted speculation about what was removed and why the public was not informed. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee highlighted the missing Trump photograph in a post on X, writing: “What else is being covered up? We need transparency for the American public.”

The incident adds to longstanding concerns over the Justice Department’s release of tens of thousands of documents, which offered limited insight into Epstein’s crimes or the prosecutorial decisions that allowed him to avoid serious federal charges.

Key materials, including FBI interviews with victims and internal memos on charging decisions, were absent.

Among the missing records are FBI interviews with survivors and Justice Department memos examining charging decisions, files that could have clarified why Epstein was allowed in 2008 to plead guilty to a state-level prostitution charge.

The released documents largely feature images of Epstein’s homes in New York City and the U.S. Virgin Islands, alongside photographs of celebrities and politicians.

Grand jury transcripts reveal testimony from several young women, including a 14-year-old, who described being paid to perform sexual acts for Epstein.

“For every girl that I brought to the table he would give me $200,” one testified. “I also told them that if they are under age, just lie about it and tell him that you are 18,” one victim said.

Former U.S. attorney Alexander Acosta, who oversaw the case in 2008, later told Justice Department lawyers that he had concerns over whether a jury would believe Epstein’s accusers.

“I’m not saying it was the right view,” Acosta said. “There’s been a lot of changes in victim shaming.”

Jennifer Freeman, attorney for Epstein accuser Maria Farmer, described the document release as both validating and frustrating.

“It’s a triumph and a tragedy,” she said. “It looks like the government did absolutely nothing. Horrible things have happened and if they investigated in even the smallest way, they could have stopped him.”

Despite a congressional deadline to release all records, the Justice Department continues to publish documents on a rolling basis, citing the time-consuming process of redacting survivors’ identities.

The department has not indicated when additional records will be released, leaving the public still waiting for a full understanding of Epstein’s crimes and the investigative actions taken.